The Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center

STUDIES CURRENTLY ENROLLING

Adolescent Weight Control Registry Study is enrolling now!

Brown Medical School and The Miriam Hospital are conducting a research study to learn more about successful strategies for weight loss among teens and young adults. Compensation is provided.

If you are between the ages of 14-20 years old, have lost a minimum of 10 pounds, and maintained this weight loss at least one year, you may be eligible for this study. For more information, call 1-800-606-6927.

  >> Investigators: Rena Wing, PhD; Elissa Jelalian, PhD

A Weight Loss Program For Teenagers Study is enrolling now!

The Miriam Hospital and Rhode Island Hospital, Lifespan partners, are conducting a research study to help teenagers lose weight. The weight management program is offered at no cost. If your teenager is between the ages of 13 and 17, is moderately overweight, and wants to lose weight, you and your teenager may be eligible for this program. Participants will be reimbursed for their time and effort completing forms. If you are interested in hearing more about this program, please call (401) 444-7512.

>> Investigators: Rena Wing, PhD; Elissa Jelalian, PhD

Project SLEEP Study is enrolling now!

Many parents notice that their children may not be sleeping enough and see changes in their children’s daytime behavior when children don’t get enough sleep. The Miriam Hospital is conducting a research program for children 8-11 years old to learn more about how changes in sleep affect children’s daytime behaviors. Children will be asked to increase and decrease the amount that they sleep for 1 week each. Parents and children will be asked to come in for 3 visits over 3 weeks to assess sleep, measure hormone levels, and assess daytime behaviors. All families will learn how to improve their child’s sleep and will also be compensated for their time.

For more information, call 401-793-8945.

    >> Investigators: Chantelle Hart, PhD; Rena Wing, PhD

BARI-ACTIVE Study is enrolling now!

Bariatric surgery is generally quite effective in producing substantial and sustained weight loss. However, some patients fail to achieve adequate weight loss, while others experience considerable weight regain in the first few years after surgery. Certain patient behaviors, including regular physical activity, can improve the chances of success. Bari-Active is a clinical trial to develop and test the effects of a behavioral intervention to increase physical activity in bariatric surgery patients who have low physical activity. Adult participants between the ages of 21 and 65 who are planning to undergo bariatric surgery will attend 6 weeks of individual face-to-face sessions involving tailored instruction in use of different behavior change strategies to increase their physical activity and decrease sedentary behaviors.

   >> Investigators: Dale S. Bond, PhD; Rena Wing, PhD

SNAP (Study of Novel Approaches to Prevention) Study is enrolling now!

Picture yourself 10 years from now…20 pounds heavier! On average, we know this is what happens to young adults. If you are between the ages of 18 and 35 and either normal weight or overweight, you may be eligible to take part in a new treatment program that is designed to prevent weight gain through healthy eating, physical activity and behavior change. If you’re interested in participating, please call us at 401-793-8940 to see if you qualify.

     >> Investigators: Rena Wing, PhD; Jessica LaRose, PhD

Rx Weight Loss Study is enrolling now!

Physicians often recommend weight loss to improve the health and quality of life of their overweight and obese patients. However, physicians rarely have the time or resources to provide intensive behavioral weight loss treatment themselves, and there are few referral options for outside treatment. The purpose of this study is to develop and test a program to which physicians may refer their overweight and obese patients. The 12-week program will be conducted primarily via the internet, and will promote weight loss via proven behavioral strategies that emphasize changes in diet and physical activity. In order to enroll in this study, patients must be referred by a participating physician. If you’re interested in participating, please call us at 401-793- 8933 to see if you qualify.

     >>Investigators: Rena Wing, PhD; J. Graham Thomas, PhD

ORBIT Weight Loss Study Study is enrolling now!

The ORBIT weight loss study is looking at whether there is an association between a person’s sleep habits and their success in a weight loss program. Adults between the ages of 25 and 55 who are overweight or obese may be eligible to participate in this new weight loss research study.There are 3 parts to this study. In the first part, participants will complete a 1-week eligibility period and complete questionnaires and measures of their eating, activity, and sleep. Information from this 1-week assessment will be used to determine eligibility for continued participation in the second phase of the study. In the second phase, the focus is on sleep patterns. Participants will be randomly assigned (like the flip of a coin) to either make immediate changes to their sleep, to make gradual changes to their sleep, or to make no changes to their sleep for a 4-week period. Sleep will be measured throughout the 4 weeks and a sleep specialist will help you make the changes in your sleep. In the third part of the study, eligible participants will be provided with a 12-week group behavioral weight loss program. We will help make healthy changes to your eating and physical activity patterns to help you lose weight and keep it off. Adults between the ages of 25 and 55 who are overweight or obese may be eligible to participate in this new weight loss research study. If you’re interested in participating, please call us at 401-793- 8962 to see if you qualify

    >> Investigators: Rena R. Wing, PhD; Chantelle Hart, PhD; Erin O'Brien, PhD

National Weight Control Registry       Study is enrolling now! >>
The National Weight Control Registry is a registry of over 5000 individuals who have lost weight and maintained it successfully. To be eligible to join the registry you must have lost at least 30 pounds and kept it off at least one year. Click here for more information.
    >> Investigators: Rena R. Wing, PhD; Suzanne Phelan, PhD

ONGOING RESEARCH -enrollment currently closed

Project SPEAK

Many young adults are overweight, but very few young adults participate in available weight loss programs. Help us understand how we can tailor our programs to better meet your needs! If you are between the ages of 18 and 25 and are overweight or obese, you may be eligible to participate. We are seeking individuals to participate in a group discussion about effective recruitment and treatment in young adults. Participation will take about 2 hours, and financial compensation will be provided for your time.

   >> Investigators: Jessica LaRose, PhD; Rena Wing, PhD

Fit for Delivery

Women who gain too much weight during pregnancy are at a greater risk of keeping extra weight on after delivery and gaining more weight in years to come. Fit for Delivery is a study to help moms gain a healthy amount of weight during pregnancy. A team of dietitians, counselors, psychologists, and physicians will work together with women to promote healthy weight gain, eating, and exercise habits during pregnancy.

    >> Investigator: Suzanne Phelan, PhD; Rena Wing, PhD

Project RACE (Race to Achieve Change through Eating and Exercise)

Behavioral weight loss programs are quite effective at helping people lose weight, but maintaining these weight losses continues to be a challenge for many people. Project RACE is a randomized trial that compares our standard program to a new approach to weight loss that is designed to help participants lose weight more slowly over time, with the goal of improving long-term weight losses. Adult participants between the ages of 18 and 65 who are overweight or obese were randomized to one of two 6-month behavioral weight loss programs: small changes or large changes. Treatment for this study is currently ongoing.

    >> Investigators: Rena Wing, Ph.D., Jessica LaRose, Ph.D

Look A.H.E.A.D. Study
Although weight loss is thought to be beneficial to health studies are needed to examine the long term changes in health that are associated with weight loss and maintenance. The Look A.H.E.A.D. study is a multi-center clinical trial that is being conducted at 15 clinical centers across the U.S. – one clinical center is at Miriam Hospital. This study will examine the health outcomes of weight loss in individuals with Type 2 diabetes.
    >> Investigator: Rena R. Wing, PhD

Bariatric EMA

Bariatric surgery is usually effective in producing a significant weight loss. However, there is considerable variability in the amount of weight loss achieved by patients. The purpose of this study is to better understand how patient behaviors affect weight loss after bariatric surgery. Participants use a palmtop computer for six days to answer questions about eating, physical activity, and surgery-related complications (e.g., nausea). Compensation is provided.

Project SPEAK Online

(Sharing Personal Experience, Attitudes, and Knowledge)

Young adulthood is a high-risk period for weight gain and obesity, yet very few young adults enroll in available programs. We are interested in understanding how to tailor weight loss and weight gain prevention programs to meet the needs of this age group. If you are between the ages of 18 and 25, you are eligible to participate in this online survey study. Participation will take about 20 minutes, and compensation will be provided for your time. If you’re interested in learning more or want to participate, click on the link below.

>> Investigators: Jessica LaRose, PhD; Rena Wing, PhD

Health-E-Call

Patients in traditional behavioral weight loss programs attend weekly meetings to learn strategies for improving their diet and physical activity habits. However, treatment is rarely tailored to patients’ individual needs, and patients rarely receive support or information between sessions, when they needed it most (i.e., in the moment when making actual decisions about eating and physical activity behaviors). The purpose of this study is to develop and test a weight loss program that combines in-person treatment with tailored treatment that is delivered in-between sessions via an iPhone. Patients who do not already own an iPhone will be given one to use for the duration of the 12-week study.

     >>Investigators: J. Graham Thomas, PhD; Rena Wing, PhD

Neuroimaging in Weight Loss

Researchers at The Miriam Hospital and Brown Medical School are studying how the brain is involved in weight loss. Many women have difficulty losing weight and maintaining weight loss, and that may be related to how certain regions of your brain process information about food. If you are eligible for the study, you will be asked to come to the clinic for a total of two behavioral sessions and two brain imaging sessions. In an initial session lasting approximately 1 hour you will complete tasks on the computer and fill out surveys. After this session, a one hour brain scanning session using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) will be scheduled. After these sessions are completed, you will either take part in a behavioral weight loss clinic, meeting once a week for three months, or you will receive regular information about nutrition, exercise, weight and healthy lifestyle choices for three months. After the three months you will return to the clinic for a second behavioral session and an fMRI session that will be exactly the same as the sessions you went through in the beginning, each lasting one hour.

    >>Investigators: Kathryn Demos, PhD; Jeanne McCaffery, PhD

PREVIOUS RESEARCH-enrollment closed

Adult Sleep Study

Does your sleep affect your behavior? Researchers at Lifespan are examining how sleep affects behavior in overweight adults. You must be 25-45 years old, overweight, and in general good health to participate. If eligible, you will spend 3 weekends at our comfortable research facility on the East Side of Providence. The study takes place from January through April. Spaces are first-come-first-serve, so call now to apply!! Participants receive payment for their time and effort.

   >> Investigators: Rena Wing, PhD; Chantelle Hart, PhD; Kathryn Demos, PhD; Tricia Leahey, PhD; Dale Bond, PhD; Jeanne McCaffery

Erectile Dysfunction and Weight Loss Study

Are erectile problems getting you down? Weight loss my give you a lift! The Miriam Hospital is offering a new weight loss program for overweight men with ED.

     >>Investigators: Dale Bond, PhD; Rena Wing, PhD

W.H.A.M. (Women’s Health and Migraine)

Women who have migraine headaches and are overweight may be at increased risk for having headaches that are more frequent and severe. If you are a woman who is 20-55 years old, overweight, and suffers from migraine headaches, you may be eligible to participate in a research study. This study will compare an intervention to help you lose weight versus usual care.

     >> Investigators: Dale Bond, PhD; Rena Wing, PhD

Young Adult Focus Group Study

We are interested in improving weight gain prevention programs for this age group, and are seeking individuals to participate in a group discussion about effective recruitment and treatment in young adults. If you are between the ages of 18 and 35, and either normal weight or overweight, researchers at the Miriam Hospital need your help! Participation will take about 90 minutes, and financial compensation will be provided for your time.

    >> Investigators: Jessica LaRose, PhD; Rena Wing, PhD

Family Dinner Study

Hasbro Children's Hospital and The Miriam Hospital are currently inviting healthy weight children (ages 8-12 years old) and their families to participate in a short (one visit) Family Dinner Study. You and your child/children will be asked to come to the Center to be weighed and measured. If you are eligible you will be asked to fill out some surveys before you leave. We will then schedule a one-time videotape of your family eating a typical meal in your house during a time when you typically eat dinner and eating the foods you typically eat. Families will receive compensation for their time.

     >> Investigators: Kyung (Kay) Rhee, MD, MSc; Rena Wing, PhD

Pediatric Weight Control Program

Researchers at Miriam Hospital and the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University are conducting a free weight control research program for overweight children age 8-12 years old and their families. Parents and children who qualify for the program will learn healthy eating and activity behaviors that will help them lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.

   >> Investigators: Kyung (Kay) Rhee, MD, MSc; Rena Wing, PhD

LITE Study
The LITE (Living Lean In a Toxic Environment) study is countering the popular notion that nobody can maintain a normal body weight while living in today's culture of fast food restaurants, automobiles, and remote controls - all of which have been labeled "toxic" to maintaining a healthy body weight. The study is comparing successful weight losers with normal weight controls to find out how they are managing to maintain a normal weight while living in our obesity-promoting world. We have completed our enrollment of successful weight losers.
    >> Investigator: Suzanne Phelan, PhD; Rena Wing, PhD

Childhood Healthy Lifestyle Studies
As the number of adolescents and adults who are overweight in the US has increased, developing healthy eating and activity habits in young children is more important than ever before. Child HELP (Healthy Eating and Lifestyle Program) and Kids CAN (Changing Activity and Nutrition) are the first studies that are examining how to help 4- to 8-year-old children who are at risk for overweight establish lifelong, health-promoting behaviors that will help prevent the development of obesity later in life.
    >> Investigators: Hollie Raynor, PhD, RD; Rena Wing, PhD

STOP Regain

Weight loss is challenging but even more challenging is weight loss-maintenance. The STOP Regain program is evaluating 3 methods for helping people to maintain their weight loss - newsletters, increased physical activity, and self-regulation. Prospective participants must have lost 10+ lbs during Shape-Up RI 2007.

    >> Investigator: Rena Wing, PhD; Amy Gorin, PhD; Angela Marinilli-Pinto, PhD

Healthy Habits Study
For most of us, when we have a variety of choices to eat, we have a tendency to eat more than we want. Research has found that both humans and animals eat more when there are lots of different food choices (greater variety), and eat less when there are fewer food choices (less variety). A diet that contains a lot of variety of snack foods, like cookies, chips, pastries, and ice cream, is linked to eating more of these foods, and is usually high in calories and fat, which may make it hard to lose weight. Healthy Habits is the first study to investigate how limiting variety in snack foods may help with weight loss.
    >> Investigators: Hollie Raynor, PhD, RD; Rena Wing, PhD

Project CLUEE
Project CLUEE (College Life: Understanding Eating and Exercise) is designed to examine whether college freshmen actually gain the mythical "Freshmen 15" and, if so, what factors lead to this weight gain. College freshmen at a local university are enrolled in this National Institutes of Health-funded study throughout their freshmen year and provide height, weight, and information on diet, physical activity, alcohol intake and other variables related to the college experience. This information will then be used to develop a treatment program geared toward assisting college students in reducing their likelihood of gaining weight during the college years.

   >> Investigators: Elizabeth E. Lloyd-Richardson, PhD; Rena R. Wing, PhD

LEAP Study
Despite the variety of diets and weight loss strategies available, maintaining a healthy weight continues to be a struggle and the home environment may be partially to blame. LEAP (Lifestyle Eating and Activity Program) is the first study to determine whether changing both the physical and social factors within the home can help people lose weight and maintain it.
    >> Investigators: Amy Gorin, PhD; Holly Raynor, PhD; Rena Wing, PhD

PRIDE Study
PRIDE (Program to Reduce Incontinence by Diet and Exercise) is a randomized, multi-center study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIDDK) currently evaluating the impact of weight loss on urinary incontinence among 330 overweight or obese incontinent women. In Rhode Island, the study is underway with 173 women, aged 30 and older, who are overweight and experiencing urinary incontinence. Women in the study have been randomly assigned to either a lifestyle and behavioral change program for weight loss or to a structured education program for weight loss. The groups differ in the frequency of group meetings over the 18-month program, but both receive valuable information on behavioral strategies to improve urinary incontinence and education on how to make lifestyle changes in diet and exercise.
    >> Investigators: Rena R. Wing, PhD; Amy Gorin, PhD

Web Slim-Fast Study
The Internet offers an exciting new way to offer weight loss programs and new technologies (expert systems) make it possible to customize programs for individuals seeking to lose weight. The Web Slim-Fast study compares three different types of Internet weight loss programs that vary in the type and amount of therapist help a person receives. This study compares counseling through e-mail from a therapist with a computer expert system. These Internet programs are used in combination with Slim-Fast.
    >> Investigators: Deborah F. Tate, PhD; Rena R. Wing, PhD

Ener-G Study
This study focuses on using Internet to help adolescent girls lose weight. Both groups will receive traditional face-to-face group meetings. However, the experimental group will also be given several Internet tools, including group chat sessions with a therapist, message boards, and e-mail feedback. The purpose will be to test the Internet's effectiveness in the adolescent weight loss process.
    >> Investigators: Deborah F. Tate, PhD; Elissa Jelalian, PhD

HealthELife Study
The HealthELife program is a weight loss study for adults. Research participants use Palm Pilot food diaries and wireless uploading allowing therapists to view their food choices. Half of the subjects receive individualized therapy via e-mail feedback from their assigned therapist. The others receive group therapy through weekly on-line chat sessions lead by a therapist. The purpose is to compare the two forms of treatment therapy in the Internet setting.
    >> Investigators: Deborah F. Tate, PhD

Web Weight II Study
This study compares two Internet weight loss programs with different types and amounts of contact throughout the programs. Both programs use a website with access to Internet resources and a social support message board but have different amounts of therapist involvement in the weight loss program.
    >> Investigators: Deborah F. Tate, PhD; Rena R. Wing, PhD;
         John M. Jakicic, PhD

Peer-Based Skills Training (PBST) Study for teenagers
One potential limitation of existing weight control interventions for teens is that little attention is given to the peer group as part of treatment. The purpose of the Peer-Based Skills Training (PBST) study is to evaluate a peer-based intervention to enhance weight control in overweight adolescents.
    >> Investigators: Elissa Jelalian, PhD; Rena R. Wing, PhD